Normal vs. Unique

David Hazony describes all of Jewish history as a struggle between normalcy and uniqueness. He argues that this is the paradox of Israel today. On the one hand, Israel seeks to be a “nation like any other nation,” emphasizing its cultural, intellectual and technological achievements. On the other hand, Israel is unique as the only Jewish State, the only democracy in the Middle East, and because of its diverse population. He concludes that Israel may achieve normalcy by giving up the attempt to achieve it, embracing instead the things that make Israel different.